Police have intensified their crackdown on former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, arresting aides, searching their houses and causing panic over allegations of terrorism activities.
Seven more aides were arrested on Friday and Saturday by plainclothes detectives, some outside City Hall, some from their Nairobi homes and some on the road.
Panic spread among Sonko friends and supporters who feared they may be targeted.
The arrests increased to nine the number of those in custody, in addition to Sonko, over claims they are training a militia group to terrorise the country.
Police went to the Nairobi homes of those arrested and seized knives and items including jungle camouflage military-type uniforms, said to be among items allegedly used for training.
The operations were carried out by the Anti-Terror Police Unit.
The first people arrested in the operation that began last week were aides Clifford Ouko and Benjamin Ochieng. On Thursday they were produced at the Kahawa West law court in Kamiti Prison for allegedly attempting to rescue Sonko.
The prosecution wants them detained for 30 days, pending investigations.
The magistrate ordered them detained until Monday when they and Sonko will appear for the hearing of an application to hold them for 30 days
The two were arrested on February 3 outside Kamiti.
Ochieng had gone on Facebook live outside the prison, saying Sonko was locked up there.
An affidavit by police said they recovered military uniforms, SIM cards, a laptop and assorted mobile phones from the two men.
In a sworn affidavit, inspector Ezekiel Luley of ATPU said the two have been wearing military uniforms against Kenyan law.
He said they planned to attack parts of the country and cause mayhem.
Sonko spent his weekend at the Gigiri police cells ahead of two rulings on his release. To reduce the number of those who wanted to see him at the cells, police misled would-be visitors that he had been moved to Kamiti or Shimo La Tewa Prison in Mombasa.
The Kamiti court hearing an application to hold Sonko 30 days deferred the ruling to Tuesday, February 9.
That is the same day a Kiambu court is to rule on his bail application in a separate assault case.
Kahawa West chief magistrate Diana Kavedza ordered Sonko be detained at the Gigiri police cells ahead of her ruling.
His defence opposed the application, citing alleged contempt of court by the prosecution and jurisdictional issues. They argued the police were abusing their power and would roll back judicial reforms.
The lawyers include John Khaminwa, Assa Nyakundi, Evans Ondieki and Alfred Nyamu.